Backpack leaf blower

ABSTRACT

A leaf blower to be worn by a user. The leaf blower including a frame having a back plate defining a back plate plane and a blower system coupled to the frame. The blower system includes a motor having drive shaft, the drive shaft defining an axis, and the axis forms an angle with respect to the back plate plane between about 5 degrees and about 35 degrees.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/544,700, filed Jul. 9, 2012, the entire contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a leaf blower and, more particularly,to a backpack leaf blower.

A leaf blower is a gardening tool that propels air out of a nozzle tomove yard debris, such as leaves, twigs, and the like. Typically, thesedevices include a power source, such as an internal combustion orelectric motor, driving a blower that in turn exhausts air underpressure. In most leaf blower designs, the air exhausted from the blowermust travel through some type of elbow or bend before it can be directedthrough the output, reducing efficiency of the device. Furthermore,existing leaf blower designs generally position the motor (usually theheaviest part of the leaf blower) far away from the user's back,increasing the strain on the user and making the device uncomfortable towear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In some embodiments, the invention includes a leaf blower to be worn bya user, the leaf blower including a frame having a back plate defining aback plate plane and a blower system coupled to the frame. The blowersystem includes a motor having a drive shaft, the drive shaft definingan axis, and wherein the axis forms an angle with respect to the backplate plane between about 5 degrees and about 35 degrees.

In other embodiments, the invention includes a leaf blower to be worn bya user, the leaf blower including a frame having a back plate and a baseplate extending from the back plate, wherein an angle is formed betweenthe back plate and the base plate. The leaf blower also includes ablower system coupled to the base plate of the frame. Further, the anglebetween the back plate and the base plate is between about 55 degreesand about 85 degrees.

In still other embodiments, the invention includes a leaf blower to beworn by a user, the leaf blower including a frame having a back platedefining a back plate plane and a blower system coupled to the frame.The blower system includes a housing defining a chamber and an impellerat least partially positioned within the chamber and having an axis ofrotation. The housing defines a working plane substantiallyperpendicular the axis of rotation of the impeller, wherein the workingplane of the housing forms an angle with respect to the plane of theback plate between about 55 degrees and about 85 degrees.

In still other embodiments, the invention includes a leaf blower to beworn by a user, the leaf blower including a frame and a blower systemcoupled to the frame. The blower system includes a housing defining achamber and an impeller at least partially positioned within the chamberand having an axis of rotation. The housing defines a working planesubstantially perpendicular the axis of rotation of the impeller. Theleaf blower also includes an output tube defining an axis therethroughwhere the axis of the output tube is substantially aligned with theworking plane

In still other embodiments, the invention includes a leaf blower to beworn by a user, the leaf blower including a frame having a back platedefining a back plate plane, and a blower system coupled to the frame.Where the blower system includes a motor having a center of gravity, andwherein a distance between the back plate plane and the center ofgravity is less than half a length of the leaf blower when the distanceand the length is measured perpendicularly from the back plate plane.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration ofthe detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a first side view of a backpack leaf blower according to oneembodiment of the invention, and being worn by a user.

FIG. 2 is a second side view of the leaf blower shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the leaf blower shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partial section view of a blower system of the backpack leafblower shown in FIG. 1.

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of embodiment and the arrangement of components set forth inthe following description or illustrated in the following drawings. Theinvention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or ofbeing carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-4 illustrate a leaf blower 10 to be worn by a user like abackpack. The leaf blower 10 includes a frame 14, a harness (not shown)for securing the frame 14 to the user, a blower system 18 coupled to theframe 14, and an output hose 22 for directing the blower's exhaust.During use, the blower system 18 produces a high pressure air flowcapable of clearing leaves, twigs, and other debris from a given area.In the illustrated embodiment, the orientation of the blower system 18on the frame 14 allows the output hose 22 to be attached without the useof an elbow or other curved ducting. As such, the present invention hasreduced air resistance, which increases the efficiency of the device.

Illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the frame 14 of the leaf blower 10provides a mounting point for the blower system 18 and is shaped to beworn comfortably by the user. In the illustrated embodiment, the frame14 is substantially “L” shaped, having a back plate 26 defining a backplate plane 30, and a base plate 34 extending from a bottom 38 of theback plate 26 and defining a base plate plane 42. When the leaf blower10 is worn, the back plate 26 of the frame 14 contacts the user's backand is generally aligned with the user's spine (FIG. 1). In someembodiments, the back plate 26 may be contoured to better correspond tothe curvature of a user's back. In other embodiments, the back plate 26may include padding, such as foam or fabric, to increase comfort.

The base plate 34 of the frame 14 extends from the back plate 26proximate the bottom 38, and forming an angle A therewith. The angle Ais preferably between about 55 degrees and about 85 degrees, and in theillustrated embodiment is about 65 degrees.

Illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the blower system 18 is coupled to theframe 14 and includes a motor 46, an impeller 48 driven by the motor 46,and a housing 50 at least partially encompassing the impeller 48 andhaving an air inlet 54 and an air outlet 58. During use, the motor 46drives (e.g., rotates) the impeller 48 causing it to draw air into theair inlet 54 to be exhausted through the outlet 58 under pressure. Morespecifically, the illustrated blower system 18 is a centrifugal typeblower, having an impeller 48 that draws air axially through the inlet54 to be centrifugally forced out the outlet 58.

In the illustrated embodiment, the blower system 18 is coupled to theframe 14 by three vibration isolating members 62 (e.g., rubber gaskets,springs, and the like). In the illustrated embodiment, the vibrationisolating members 62 extend between the blower system 18 and the frame14 (e.g., the base plate 34). During use, the vibration isolatingmembers 62 at least partially absorb and dissipate any vibrations formedby the blower system 18 during use. In other embodiments, fewer or moreisolating members 62 may be used.

The motor 46 of the blower assembly includes a drive shaft 64 definingan axis 66 therethrough. When the blower assembly 18 is assembled, theaxis 66 of the drive shaft 64 forms an angle B with respect to the backplate plane 30 (FIG. 1). The angle B is preferably between about 5degrees and about 35 degrees, and in the illustrated embodiment is about25 degrees. In the illustrated embodiment, the motor 46 is an internalcombustion type motor, however in other embodiments, an electric motoror other type of power source may be used.

The orientation of the motor 46 with respect to the frame 14 allows themotor's center of gravity CG to be placed closer to the user's back,thereby making the backpack leaf blower 10 more comfortable and easierto carry. More specifically, a distance 16 between the center of gravityCG and the back plate 26 (i.e., CG_(S)) is less than half the overalllength L of the leaf blower 10, when each distance is measuredperpendicularly from the back plate 26 (i.e., CG_(D)<L/2).

Referring to FIG. 4, the housing 50 of the blower system 18 defines achamber 68 defining the air inlet 54 and the air outlet 58. Duringoperation, the motor 26 rotates the impeller 48 within the housing 50,causing air to be drawn in through the inlet 54 and exhausted, underpressure, through the outlet 58. Although not illustrated, the housing50 may include one or more channels or walls to direct air within thechamber 68. The housing 50 also defines a working plane 70,substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation 66 of the impeller48. In the illustrated embodiment, the working plane 70 forms an angle Cwith respect to the back plate plane 30. The angle C is between about 55degrees and about 85 degrees, and in the illustrated embodiment is about65 degrees.

The output tube 22 extends from the air outlet 58 of the housing 50 anddirects the high pressure exhaust of the blower system 18. In theillustrated embodiment, the output tube 22 includes a flexible portion74 connected to the air outlet 58 and a rigid portion 78 extending fromthe flexible portion 74 to a tube outlet 76. When assembled, the usermay adjust the rigid portion 78, using it as a nozzle to direct the highpressure air stream from the blower system 18. When the flexible portion74 is straight and aligned with the rigid portion 78 (e.g., a“straightened configuration”), the output tube 22 extends along a tubeaxis 82.

In the illustrated embodiment, the tube axis 82 of the output tube 22 isalignable with and to lie in the working plane 70 of the housing 50(FIG. 1). Also, in the illustrated embodiment, when the rigid portion 78of the output tube 22 is in a rested position (e.g., the flexibleportion 74 is straight (the straightened configuration)), the axis 82 issubstantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the impeller 48(and to the axis 66 of the drive shaft 64). By being aligned with andlying in the working plane 70 of the housing 50, the high pressure airflow produced by the blower system 18 exits directly from the outlet 58and through the output tube 22 without encountering any unnecessaryresistance (e.g., by traveling through an elbow tube and the like).

The output tube 22 also includes a control handle 86 coupled to therigid portion 78 to help the user control the orientation of the outputtube 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the control handle 86 includesone or more controls 90, such as a trigger or throttle, to set the motorspeed, ignition, and the like.

Although the invention is described with regards to a leaf blower, infurther embodiments the same geometry and orientations may be used inother designs, such as blower vacs and the like.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference tocertain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist withinthe scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the inventionas described.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A leaf blower to be worn by a user, theleaf blower comprising: a frame including a back plate and a base plateextending from the back plate, a fixed angle being formed between theback plate and the base plate, the fixed angle being between about 55degrees and about 85 degrees; and a blower system coupled to the baseplate of the frame, the blower system including an impeller and ahousing at least partially encompassing the impeller and defining aninlet and a housing outlet, the blower system defining a working planethat is substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of theimpeller, and wherein the working plane is also substantially parallelto the base plate.
 2. The leaf blower of claim 1, wherein the fixedangle is about 65 degrees.
 3. A leaf blower to be worn by a user, theleaf blower comprising: a frame including a back plate defining a backplate plane and a base plate extending from the back plate, a firstfixed angle being formed between the back plate and the base plate, thefirst fixed angle being between about 55 degrees and about 85 degrees;and a blower system coupled to the base plate of the frame, the blowersystem including a motor having a drive shaft, the drive shaft having alower end positioned toward the base plate and an opposite upper endpositioned closer to the back plate, the drive shaft defining a shaftaxis extending between the lower end and the upper end, the shaft axisforming a second angle with the back plate plane between about 5 degreesand about 35 degrees.
 4. The leaf blower of claim 3, wherein the secondangle is about 25 degrees.
 5. The leaf blower of claim 3, wherein themotor defines a center of gravity, and wherein a distance between theback plate plane and the center of gravity is less than half an overalllength of the leaf blower when the distance and the overall length aremeasured perpendicularly from the back plate plane.